IT’S THE JOB OF THE VEINS TO LET THE BLOOD FLOW upward toward the heart without allowing it to come back again. When this process breaks down, blood accumulates in the vessels, making them swell. Varicose veins appear to be knotted veins lying just below the surface of the skin on the legs. People suffering with varicose veins feel as if their legs are fatigued, sore, swollen, and cramping.

Some causes of varicose veins are standing or sitting in one position for long periods of time.

SPIRITUALLY, A PERSON BEGINS TO SUFFER WITH varicose veins when s/he is carrying such a heavy load that the legs can no longer support the weight. Words that apply for a person suffering with varicose veins include fear, helplessness, insufficient support, disappointment, stress, responsibility, pressure. People suffering with varicose veins see no way out of the situation and see no opportunity to move forward.

Migraine headaches are both very painful and very common. They can be hereditary.

They have very definite emotional and spiritual causes. People suffering with migraines are experiencing fear of failure for one thing. The person is in a situation where it’s necessary to heavily control feelings as well as environment. These controls may be coming from outside as opposed from inside oneself. Parent? Boss? Spouse?

The sufferer may be in a situation in life where feelings must be repressed. The person is actually emotionally/spiritually hiding.

Getting rid of migraine headaches takes some real focus. It’s important to examine all the underlying problems including nutritional deficiencies, allergies, and endocrine system imbalances.

Reflexology for the Spirit can be a real help but it’s best to work from a prevention standpoint. In other words, a migraine sufferer needs to include a weekly reflexology session in his/her schedule – not just for awhile but as a lifestyle activity. This commitment is necessary to keep the stress down and to address the underlying causes. Having a reflexology session only when the migraine headache occurs is not the answer to the problem.

Nutritional issues can be addressed by consultations with a nutritionist knowledgeable of migraines. Then, after the consultations, the migraine sufferer needs to omit the necessary foods and add the necessary supplements and herbs. This amounts to a lifestyle change. Any diet and supplement changes will take at least six weeks to have any real impact.

Whoever you consult with will probably recommend magnesium, fish oil, B vitamins. If you are already taking these supplements, consider that you may be using a product which isn’t suitable for you. That’s why it’s necessary to consult with a nutritionist. As we all know by now, I use Liz at Village Apothecary here in Woodstock: 845-679-0970.

My Reflexology teacher, Marge D’Urso always told us that the first thing a person should do is eliminate wheat and dairy from the diet. She felt those two foods were the cause of many of our health problems.

When offering a reflexology session to a migraine sufferer, begin by working the solar plexus and diaphragm reflexes.

Work the endocrine system by focusing on the pituitary gland reflexes and the adrenal gland reflexes.

Let us consider for a moment a bit of vocabulary surrounding the heart and how it interacts with our lives:

big-hearted

heartless

cold-hearted

half- hearted

heartfelt

from the bottom of your heart

take things to heart

You have touched my heart

talk heart to heart

Heart disorders occur when the body is unable to perform its pumping functions smoothly. Because the heart is both a physical and spiritual body part, there are many reasons for these disorders to occur.

The heart functions begin to fray when we are overloaded with anger, fear, criticism, heartbreak and no longer give and receive love.

Beyond the spiritual and emotional aspects, there are the old familiar physical aspects which actually begin to affect the heart many years before the disease manifests itself.

In all cases, the diagnosis of these disorders is best left up to professionals. However, much of the prevention is up to us.

Whenever I study heart disorders, diet, nutrition, and exercise are front and center. There is a whole line up of supplements for heart disorders. On one end of the spectrum, it’s easy enough to take the list and head for the local pharmacy or grocery store and get whatever is on sale.

For me, a better way is to get only those supplements which apply to your situation and which are recommended by a professional who knows the products. I’ve mentioned her name many times, but my supplement professional is Liz at Village Apothecary here in Woodstock. She knows the products, how they’re manufactured, how they fit into my total lifestyle mix, age group, etc.

Reflexology for the Spirit is important in this mix. Homeostasis is an important element in a healthy circulatory system. When we encourage homeostasis, we make a pathway for the emotional/spiritual healing which is necessary.

When offering reflexology sessions to a person concerned with cardiovascular health, begin the session by working the solar plexus and diaphragm reflexes.

Work the endocrine system with emphasis on the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands.

High blood pressure happens when the heart is forced to pump harder to maintain circulatory functions. Often people have high blood pressure and aren’t aware of the situation. High blood pressure can damage arterial walls and puts strain on the heart.

If you have high blood pressure, you are at risk of heart attack, stroke, peripheral artery disease, and congestive heart failure.

High blood pressure is also often a spiritual disease because factors affecting your blood pressure include pushing yourself beyond your limits, feeling too much pressure and too many demands in your daily life, holding onto anger and hurt.

If you want to control your hypertension, take the medication and make some lifestyle changes so the dose will be the absolute lowest possible. Often, the lifestyle changes will allow you to discontinue the medication.

Changing your diet can really help. Work on losing weight. This means cutting out the junk foods in addition to eating low calorie vegetables, fruits, beans. Cut out caffeine, alcoholic drinks and any beverage with calories. Diet is seriously important here…especially if you don’t want to take pills.

Some specific vitamins and minerals recommended for persons dealing with hypertension include Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Magnesium, Garlic, Flaxseed oil. Therefore, I advise that you find a nutritionist or call Liz at Village Apothecary in Woodstock (845-679-0790). She knows the vitamins and minerals you need and she knows what diet is going to work the best for your situation. You want to make sure that you are taking the right supplement and the right amount of the supplement to do the most good for you.

Exercise is important. Find something you like to do and then do it every day. Increase the amount of time you exercise a little each day. Until you come up with a better exercise, try walking.

Receiving Reflexology for the Spirit sessions regularly can definitely help to stabilize hypertension. Homeostasis to the rescue!

When offering a session to a person suffering with hypertension, begin the session by working the solar plexus and diaphragm reflexes.

A healthy circulatory system is important to a person’s overall well being, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Our blood represents our life force. A key word here is happiness. High blood pressure, for example, can represent an emotional or spiritual issue in one’s life. And, while this may be a situation with emotional origins, it’s not an opportunity to ignore a warning sign.

A healthy circulatory system is necessary to feel and express emotions positively. A high cholesterol level interferes with open channels necessary for accepting happiness. High or low blood pressure represents longstanding unresolved emotional issues. And, of course, callouses on the heart area of the foot are important to the practitioner.

As you work the circulatory system, you have an opportunity to distribute love and healing feelings – improving a client partner’s sense of self worth and balancing blood flow. A person with a healthy heart is more likely to be happy.

So you’ve actually got two lists here. The top list is the list of foods nourishing the circulatory system. The second list is those foods on Johnny Bowden, Ph .D.’s list. In the case of the circulatory system list, the majority of the foods are on both lists. This gets a little complicated but worth knowing. Please let me know if you have trouble with the information and how it is listed.

IMPROVEMENTS TO BE EXPECTED FROM SESSIONS TO THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM INCLUDE the fact that regular sessions will improve the circulation of the body and help normalize blood pressure if this is called for. There is a definite spiritual aspect to the circulatory system which Reflexology for the Spirit sessions address.

Fatigue is an important symptom and is best not ignored…although many people try. The five reasons why people feel tired are:

Insufficient Sleep: The first step toward overcoming fatigue is to begin to sleep more. Sleep is extremely important.

We repair our bodies and souls as we sleep.

We maintain our mental and emotional systems as we sleep.

We use the subconscious mind as we asleep.

Try for nine hours of sleep each night. If you’re sleeping nine hours each night and still feel tired, you need to look further into your causes of fatigue. If you’re unable to sleep over eight hours each night and you’re trying to get that amount of sleep, you need to have your sleep habits evaluated at a sleep clinic. Sleeping pills are not the answer.

There is a correlation between insufficient sleep and some diseases. People with poor sleeping habits can suffer from type 2 diabetes, depression, fibromyalgia, heartburn, heart disease, heart failure, high blood pressure, menopause problems, memory loss, and obesity more often than their counterparts with good sleeping habits.

I’m going to put in a plug for reflexology now. People who receive regular reflexology sessions report that they sleep significantly better.

Hormonal Imbalances: Often, if a person is sleeping eight hours or more each night and still feels tired, it’s time to go to an Endocrinologist and get the thyroid and adrenal glands tested. When the Endocrine system gets your body back on track you’ll feel like a new person.

Proper Nutrition: Most people think they eat properly. Most people don’t. Some basics for a good diet include eliminating things: flour, sugar, processed foods. Stay away from foods with label listings you can’t understand. If you read a word on the ingredient list that you don’t understand, don’t buy the product and don’t eat it. Much of what we buy in grocery stores today is not food. It is a collection of chemicals that have been manufactured and combined for consumption but it’s not food.

If you are serious about maintaining good health and overcoming fatigue, it’s important to get the proper vitamins and minerals. I use Liz at Village Apothecary here in Woodstock. Either contact her at 845-679-0790, or try to find your own nutritionist to guide you in the selection of vitamins and minerals you need to have the healthiest body possible. Just purchasing your vitamins and minerals randomly based on the color of the label or what might be on sale will not always result in you getting the best product for your needs.

Inactivity: The message here is easy. Keep moving. If you feel tired, try moving around. Walk on your lunch hour. Go for a hike instead of going to the movies or sitting down in front of the TV.

Depression: Fatigue and depression go hand in hand. And, the cause of the fatigue sometimes leaves clues in the kinds of depression experienced. For example, the depression caused by a low thyroid is very different from the depression created by too much sugar is very different from the depression caused by inactivity. If you find yourself depressed, think about how it is manifesting itself. What can be the cause?

Disease: There are at least 65 diseases for which fatigue is a symptom. This statement alone tells you how important fatigue is to diagnosing, and ultimately overcoming many diseases. Some diseases affecting the circulatory system that have fatigue as a symptom include Cardiomyopathy, Congestive heart failure, Myocarditis, Valvular heart disease.

When treating fatigue with Reflexology for the Spirit sessions, begin by working the brain reflexes.

Then work the respiratory system as you focus on the lung reflexes.

Follow the work on the lung reflexes by working the circulatory system with the emphasis on the heart reflex.

Next, work on the digestive system with a focus on the liver reflex.

Work the endocrine system with emphasis on the adrenal gland reflexes and the thyroid reflexes.

The circulatory system is composed of the heart, arteries, veins, capillaries, and blood, and it actually exists everywhere in our bodies. The heart is an amazing creation about the size of your fist. It’s your hardest working muscle – always working, whether we’re asleep or awake. The heart is a two-sided pumping station with four chambers separated by valves that keep our blood flowing in the proper direction. The chamber or atrium on the right and the right ventricle pump the oxygenated blood back through the body. The muscular walls or septum divide the heart’s two sizes and keep the two kinds of blood from mixing.

The chambers and ventricles of the two halves are separated by a valve. The left side of the heart and the right side of the heart are separated by the septum. The valves keep the blood flowing in one direction only.

Arteries carry blood from the heart to every part of the body. As the arteries branch out they become smaller until they become capillaries.

As the blood returns to the heart, it moves in veins. The beating heart keeps the blood moving continuously throughout the body.

Because the circulatory system exists throughout the entire body, the reflexes are found throughout the entire foot. However, the heart reflex itself is found primarily on the left foot. Working the entire foot works this system and you help to circulate new energy to every cell. Working the entire foot focuses on this system. You help circulate new energy to every cell.

Several diseases affect the heart and the circulatory system so it’s important to take care of the heart. Heart disease and stroke are major causes of death in our country.

Heart diseases do not occur overnight. By the time a person begins to suffer from high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart attack and/or stroke, the problems causing these diseases have been lurking in the body for decades.

Circulatory diseases, for the most part, are preventable with lifestyle changes and regular reflexology sessions.

If a person has a “wake up call” before getting on the right path, there is still hope. As soon as the lifestyle changes begin, better health is often on the way.

When examining the feet, always note any red blotches, representing anger, callouses on the heart area of the foot, indicating concealed deep feelings or the need for protection.

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Peace and food for all.

As always, this post comes to you from my healing space in scenic downtown Woodstock, NY.

Breathe in relaxation. Breathe out tension. Now scan your hips, legs, feet, and toes. Breathe in relaxation. Breathe out the last of your tension.

Now, check how your entire body feels. Breathe in more relaxation. Breathe out the last of your fatigue.

Make your eyes soft now. Look around you. You find yourself walking on a path.

As you walk along, you see an angel seated on a bench beside this path. As you approach the bench, the angel stands up and joins you on your walk.

You feel immediately comforted by this angel. You notice what this angel looks like. How does this angel to you? You notice every detail so you’ll be able to remember this moment better.

You know, within yourself, this angel is here for you. And, you know this angel has a gift for you.

The two of you walk along this path. You are relaxed, peaceful, content. You feel comfortable within yourself. The temperature around you is just right for the moment. You are enjoying being in this natural setting and you are enjoying being with the angel.

You feel the warmth of the sun on your skin. You notice a slight breeze. You hear the gentle sounds of wildlife as you walk along the path.

As the two of you walk along, you see a house ahead on the path. Now you know why the angel has joined you today.

You notice the details of this house just as you noticed the details of the angel. You take note of the size of the house. You observe the windows, the doors, the siding.

You pay close attention to the landscaping. You see all of the details of the yard…the flowers…the trees. The house, the yard, everything is perfect.

The angels walks over to the front door and opens it for you. You step inside and immediately notice every detail.

You are filled with gratitude, knowing withing yourself that this house is yours. It’s a gift from the angel.

You explore the house now, noticing colors, textures, furnishings, objects.

Then, you select a relaxing activity to enjoy in your house. You are in this house to relax and enjoy yourself.

Finally, you and the angel know it’s time to return to your path. The angel urges you to remember all the details of your house. You know the house belongs to you and is waiting for you anytime you need it.

You and the angel go to the door now, open it, walk outside, and then close it. The two of you walk down the path. After a few steps you look back at the house and know you will return whenever you need.

Then, you thank the angel for this gift which you can cherish and use whenever you need. The two of you come to the bench. The angel sits down on the bench and waves goodbye to you as you walk down the path again.

You turn and offer a heartfelt “thank you” and continue on. You are relaxed, at peace. Your breathing continues to be easy and deep.

Once again you are aware of your surroundings as you return to the space where you began your meditation. You remember the angel and you remember the house with gratitude.

Gout attacks people experiencing too much stress, worry, intense pressure. People feeling the weight of responsibilities sometimes fall prey to this disease. More men experience gout than women. Gout can become a chronic condition.

Gout happens in people’s lives when they feel stuck in a situation and cannot release the past. (This is one reason why gout is a disease of the elderly. They begin to hold onto the past.)

Physical situations also contribute to gout. Risk factors include kidney disease, diabetes, leukemia, radiation treatments, obesity. Diet also plays a part. People wanting to avoid gout should avoid asparagus, sardines, mushrooms, and organ meats. These foods are high in purines which contribute to a uric acid build-up in the blood.

Gout usually begins as swelling, redness, and severe joint pain. An episode comes on rapidly and lasts about a week. After a week, the gout focuses itself on the large toe, ankles, knees, wrists, hands. There may or may not be a temperature.

Gout is a form of arthritis.

There is a chance of kidney damage with gout.

It’s important to get a diagnosis from a healthcare professional.

Diet and nutrition can help decrease symptoms. Gout sufferers should avoid alcohol, lose weight gradually and restrict foods high in purines. It also helps to drink several glasses of water daily to dilute the uric acid.

Homeopathy has proven to help alleviate the symptoms. Some people rely on Acupuncture treatments.

When offering reflexology of the spirit sessions to a gout sufferer, begin with the endocrine system with a focus on the pituitary gland and the adrenals.

Symptoms include fatigue, loss of appetite, swelling in the face, edema, abdominal pain, and dark urine.

Treatment includes medication to reduce infection, limit kidney damage and support the body’s overall good health. Diuretics may be prescribed. Dialysis may be needed if kidney failure occurs. And, finally, a kidney transplant may be needed.

Diet is a consideration here. Not only should a person consider what is eaten, but where it came from, how it grew, how it’s prepared, and how much is eaten.

A person’s physical environment is important here. Eliminate as many toxins as you can. Create a healing environment to enhance the healing aspects of homeostasis offered in reflexology sessions.

Relationships are important in kidney diseases, especially nephritis. Be selective. Be positive in your thoughts and actions toward other people. Avoid draining relationships.

When offering Reflexology for the Spirit sessions to a person suffering with nephritis, work the endocrine system with emphasis on the pituitary gland and the adrenal glands.

Work the immune system with emphasis on the spleen.

Work the urinary system with emphasis on the kidney reflexes as well as the bladder, ureter, and urethra reflexes.

In “A Healer’s Handbook”, Thurman shares experiences and observations based on years of practice. She focuses on the spirituality of the different body systems, both physical and energetic.

This book offers extensive information on condition and illnesses encountered by healing practitioners. The spiritual connection is explained in every health issue because they reveal a person’s deeper layers, essential for healing.

Thurman Greco’s “I Don’t Hang Out in Churches Anymore” will touch your heart as she relates both the joys and hardships of contemporary American life as seen through the eyes of a small town food pantry. This is the story of how one woman in America found God.

In truthful, upbeat, intimate language, these prayers relate events and stories that may sound familiar to you. They are the stories of your neighbors. These experiences reveal joy, love, laughter, pain, surprise.

Do you believe in miracles? There are stories in these prayers that can be interpreted no other way.

The prayers in this book will empower you to pray for yourself as well as others. When this happens, you will discover just how import prayer for others is, as did author Thurman Greco. You will learn more about yourself and your connection to your community. In this process, you will learn more about God.

I’m a writer, Reflexology for the Spirit Teacher and Practitioner, canine massage therapy teacher, Reiki Master Teacher. I began my career as a healer in 1982 when I graduated from the Potomac Massage Therapy Institute in Washington, D. C. Because people in my field never stop learning, I practice 9 different kinds of Reiki therapy: Usui, Violet Flame, Lightarian, JinKeiDo, Mari-El, Gendai, Karuna…, Reiki for Animals, and End of Life Reiki. Although I learned several kinds of massage, I knew before I even graduated from massage school that I was going to be a reflexologist.

I teach classes and practice in a positive, upbeat healing space beside a beautiful stream in downtown Woodstock. I give talks about Reflexology for the Spirit to groups of interested people.

And, of course, my career path could never have been complete without the skills I learned as I studied animal communication, Tarot card readings, Akashic Records readings, and Angel readings.

Everyone’s feet have stories to tell. Everyone can venture down the path to healing: physical, mental, spiritual, emotional. Those who know me, work with me, and study under me, agree that I am passionate about healing work in general and Reflexology for the Spirit in particular. With this blog, I’m inviting you to journey down this path with me.

I welcome your comments and questions. Thank you for joining in the conversation.

Thurman Greco

Donate to feed the hungry

Mission Statement

My mission is to improve the quality and health of all beings around me through a blog, a book, classes and private sessions. These activities create a ripple effect which extends healing beyond us all… beyond time and space.

Author’s Note

This blog was edited and rearranged over many drafts in an effort to make sure the information offered is as accurate as possible.

Technical information presented is the result of years of experience, education, training, and research. The opinions I express are mine.

Bodywork challenges us to be lifelong students. Without the Reverend Dan Chesbro, Marge D’Urso, Kerrith McKechnie, Mary Ruth Van Landingham, Jonathan Rudinger, Penelope Smith, Dawn Hayman and Lucy Swensen, this book would never have happened. You answered my questions, suggested I move beyond my safety zone, and pushed me on down the road.

Healers are dependent upon their client partners. Every person who has come to my table, wherever it was, has been a gift of the universe bringing vital messages which made me a better practitioner.

Thank you.

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Many people wrote this blog. The real creators are the wonderful people who came to my table. These individuals offered me an opportunity to heal and grow. Without client partner trust, not one word of this blog would have ever or could ever happen.

Even more trust is needed for a person to allow another to become their “teacher”. I’ve taught many of you as I fielded your questions, supported you in your quest, encouraged your spirituality, realized when the day had come for you to move on. Each of you has been a gift of the universe placed at my door. For me, teaching has been a very humbling experience.

I extend my most heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has touched my life as a client partner, a student, a teacher.

I have said and written many times: Kerrith McKechnie, Marge D’Urso, Mary Ruth Van Landingham, Jonathan Rudinger, Penelope Smith, Dawn Hayman, and the Reverend Dan Chesbro made my career possible.

Three people stand out in the creation of this book: Lucy Swensen, Barbara Friesner, and Sangi Van Den Nouweland. Without you three ladies, Lucy, Barbara, and Sangi, nothing would ever have happened to my book. Thank you.
Personally, I hope the next one will be easier for you!

The blog, www.hungerisnotadisease.com, is a true story with reallife citizens. In this blog you’ll meet all the characters…everyone brought together by the pantry:

alcoholics

artists

child abusers

children

crazies

the disabled

druggies

drunks

elderly men and women

hardworking people juggling 2 and 3 jobs,

homeless

mentally ill

messedup

people

musicians

politicians,

schizophrenics

terminally ill people

thieves,

Woodstock’s colorful characters,

writers

various ministers with congregations in the community

church and community volunteers.

You will become intimately involved with the rules surrounding the feeding of the hungry, ,the economy of hunger, the biases of people about pantries, and the taboos of money. You will get up close and personal with the politics of hunger.

GOOD MORNING WOODSTOCK

The blog, www.goodmorningwoodstock.com, is a collection of true stories about the people who make up this world famous town. Each post sheds light on the attitudes of the residents. The events in each post reveal how this community maintains its reputation. Each story is real. I don’t have the imagination to make this stuff up.

SUGAR SECURITY

The blog, www.sugarsecurity.com, sheds light on our need for protection, safety, self defense as we cope with fear an emotion shared by all but the Sociopaths.